Collaborate with Digital Tools

Sometimes seeing is believing! Classroom teachers provide many opportunities for students to talk and share ideas related to learning activities. It is a great way for students to learn from each other. However, when it is just talking those powerful student thoughts and ideas disappear into thin air. A great way to capture these moments of communication and collaboration can be through digital tools. 

Padlet is a great way to easily share a collaborative digital space with students. Simply create a Padlet, share the link or QR code with your students, and let the collaboration begin. 

                      


There is an iOS app and a Chrome extension, but this is also web-based internet application so downloading an app is not required. It is friendly across many platforms so you don't have to worry about it working with different devices. 

Some ideas for using Padlet in the classroom:

• Brainstorming 
• Classifying and categorizing ideas and/or objects 
• Book talks with other classes 
• Book reviews
• Making learning connections to real world problems
• Sharing resources 
• Backchannel 

I would love to hear from teachers who are using Padlet in the classroom. If you haven't tried it yet, let me hear how you like it once you do. Please comment below. 

I hope everyone has a restful and happy Thanksgiving Break! 

Relevant, Nonfiction Reading Passages - No Printing Required

Are you using Newsela to give your students access to current articles at their reading level? Newsela.com is free and has news articles in a variety of subject areas including science, money, sports, and more! This is a great site that provides interesting, timely, and relevant reading material which can help encourage student engagement.  

Once you choose an article that complements the standards you are addressing, you can download it at several different reading levels to accommodate the needs of your students. It can easily be posted to Google Classroom to provide access for your students. No printing needed! 

If you want your students to have the article as a PDF so they can annotate (make notes in the margin, underline and highlight words, etc.) using a mobile device, then download as a PDF to Google Drive and post as an Assignment in Classroom using the "make a copy" option.

I would love to hear how you are using differentiated digital content in your classroom! Please share in the comments section below. 

The Student-Centered Classroom: Communicating What Matters | Edutopia

The Student-Centered Classroom: Communicating What Matters | Edutopia

A great blog from a thoughtful teacher about the student-centered classroom.

Digital Learning Cohorts - Blogging Together

Welcome to the INFUSE phase of the Digital Learning Cohort!

As part of the INFUSE course this year, we will be blogging about what is happening in the classroom. I am reviving my Techy Teacher blog to participate.

A little bit about me -
I am passionate about using technology as a learning tool with students. I was lucky enough to experience using 1:1 iPads with students as a 3rd grade and 5th grade teacher. As I tell people, having a mobile device for each one of my students changed me as a teacher and changed the way my students learned. More effective and frequent differentiation of instruction was one of the biggest positive effects for my students. The iPad allowed me to more easily address the needs of my students and adjust the content, process and/or products to help them be more successful. Students were empowered due to having access to the technology and began to take more ownership of their learning. This empowerment meant students having more voice and choice about their learning. Designing and implementing authentic assessments was also a natural result of the 1:1 classroom environment.

I am still a teacher at heart. However, I am now working as an Educational Technology Specialist with a mission to help more students get access to technology as a learning tool. I am excited to be a part of the Digital Learning Cohorts in CCSD. I believe the program we have in place is developing teacher leaders in every school that will eventually result in more student-centered learning environments.

As part of the INFUSE DLC course this year, we are asking our teachers to blog about their professional learning and teaching experiences. I will be blogging right along with them.

I look forward to working with the DLC teachers this year!